American Teen charged with Stealing $20 Million worth of Tastee Cheese

A New Jersey teen has been charged with stealing more than US$160,000 ($20.6 million) worth of Jamaican cheese.

Prosecutors said Thursday that 18-year-old Darluis Ortiz stole pallets of Tastee Cheese products from a food warehouse in Moonachie on September 23.

Tastee cheese is often eaten with spiced or sweetened buns, especially at Easter.

Ortiz was arrested on Wednesday and was charged with theft, burglary, conspiracy and possessing burglary tools. He was being held in the Bergen County jail on bail that was US$10,000 less than the value of the canned, processed cheese.

He couldn’t be reached for comment by phone. It was unknown if he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

Ortiz was arrested after a two-week investigation by members of the Bergen County prosecutor’s office and the Moonachie police department.

FEATURED IMAGE: Darluis Ortiz (left) is shown in an undated photo released by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. The teen allegedly stole US$160,000 worth of Tastee Cheese products (right) from a food warehouse.